JOSEPH O. JOY. Sangamon County as well as other parts of this country is greatly indebted for its growth and progress in the last quarter of a century to the citizen-soldiers of the late war, who bravely fought in the ranks to preserve the Union, and since those trying times have done as noble work in pushing forward the various interests of this great Republic. Our subject is a fine representative of these men, and is one of the most progressive and successful farmers and stock-growers of Loami Township.

Mr. Joy was born August 2, 1843, in Cabell County, in what is now West Virginia. His father, William Joy, was born in 1817, amid the grand scenery at Harper's Ferry, Va. He located in Cabell County before his marriage, and in the spring of 1857 he came hither, and settled among the pioneers of Loami Township. He bought a farm three-fourths of a mile northwest of Loami, and after that purchased another on Section 16, where the remaining years of his life were passed, and death closed his busy career, March 17, 1873. He was greatly esteemed for his many good qualities of head and heart, and had as few enemies and as many friends during his life as any man in the township. The mother of our subject was Minerva Knight, and she was born in North Carolina. She is still living at a venerable age, and of her ten children, five are living. She is a sincere Christian, and has long been a devoted member of the Methodist Church. She sent five sons to Southern battlefields to defend the stars and stripes. Buena Vista Joy enlisted as a member of the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, was captured by the enemy, and sacrificed his life for his country, dying from starvation in Andersonville prison July 5, 1864; John W. Joy also gave up his life for his country. He was a member of the Seventy-third Illinois, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Perrysville, October 8, 1862, and died December 26, of the same year; James M. suffered much for the Union cause. He was a member of the Seventy-third Illinois Infantry, was captured at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, and was a prisoner until the close of the war, having an experience of life in five different rebel prisons. William E. did brave service on the battlefield. He was likewise a member of the gallant Seventy-third Illinois Regiment. He was wounded at Perrysville, October 8, 1862, and was afterward discharged on account of disability.

We will now resume the account of the life of our subject. His early educational advantages were not of the best, but he managed to obtain some book learning in the subscription schools of pioneer times. He remained at home until the war broke out and was very serviceable to his father in the labor of carrying on the farm. He was a mere youth when the war broke out, but as soon as possible he offered his services to his country, and when only nineteen years old enlisted, August 6, 1862, in the Seventy-third Illinois Regiment, of which some of his brothers were members. The young soldier passed through many trying scenes, and fought in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war. He was at Perrysville, at Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and in the last named battle was shot through the left hip. He was sent to the general hospital at Chattanooga, where he remained until December 24. On that date he was forwarded to Nashville, where he lay suffering from his wound until February 6, 1864, when he returned home on a furlough of twenty days. At the expiration of that time he returned to the hospital and rejoined his regiment March 6, in East Tennessee.

Mr. Joy took part in the Atlanta campaign. He did good service at Rocky Face Ridge, and at Dalton and Resaca; bravely faced the enemy on the battlefield at Adairsville, and again at Dallas, New Hope church, Pine and Lost Mountains, and last but not least, engaged in the terrible assault at Kenesaw Mountain. He was in the midst of the fight at Peach Tree Creek, and at Jonesboro, and subsequently returned with his regiment to Atlanta. From there he and his comrades were sent to Chattanooga, and thence to Pulaski, where they camped for a time. The next battle in which the gallant men of the Seventy-third participated, was at Franklin, and then came the fierce contest with the rebels at Nashville. Our subject's course on the battlefield was alike honorable to himself and reflected credit on the soldiery of this State. His military life was brought to a close June 12, 1865, when he was mustered out of the service.

Not long after his return from the South, our gallant hero was duly rewarded for all that he had done and suffered in defense of the old flag, by the hand and heart of Miss Sarah J. Baker, to whom he was united in marriage November 2, 1865. Mrs. Joy is a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Baker, natives of Virginia, who were among the first settlers in this county. Her father died in 1852, and her mother in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Joy have had five children - Charles W., William A., John W. (deceased), Mary A., and Irene (deceased).

Mr. Joy has by his energetic and persistent labors placed himself among the most substantial and well-to-do farmers of the township. He has a choice farm of three hundred and fourteen acres whose broad fields are under admirable tillage, and its well-ordered and neatly appointed farm buildings make it one of the most attractive places in this locality. He and his family have a home that is replete with comfort in a fine residence that is tastefully furnished throughout. Mr. Joy is one of the leading horse-breeders in this part of the county, and has some very fine road horses, and disposed of one recently for $600.

Mr. Joy is essentially a self-made man, having started in life with but limited means, and achieving success by his ambitious and persistent efforts to overcome every obstacle that lay in his pathway. Possessing many fine traits of character, and always genial and obliging in his intercourse with others, he is held in high estimation throughout the community. He has served his township as Assessor twice. He is sound in his political views and gives the Republican party his hearty support. He has been a delegate to several conventions, but otherwise has taken no very active part in the politics of the county. His life as a soldier is commemorated by his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is connected with the Farmer's Mutual Benefit Association. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and are earnestly desirous to do all in their power to elevate the social, moral and religious status of the community.